Air-ship.



PATENTED JUNE 14, 1904.

S. T. BEST.

AIR SHIP.

APPLICATION nun um. 24, 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET -1.

N0 MODEL.

PATENTED JUNE 14, 1904.

$.1 BEST. AIR SHIP.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24, 1903.

iSHEETS-SHBET 2.

N0 MODEL.

wihwooeo No. 762,273. PATENTEDY JUNE 14, 1904. s. T. BEST.

AIR SHIP. APPLIOATION I'ILED JAN. 24, 1903.

10 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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PATENTED JUNE 14, 1904.

s. T. BEST. AIR SHIP. APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 24, 1903.

4 sums-sum 4.

' N0 MODEL.

Patented June 14, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

1 SAMUEL T. BEST, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

AIR-SHIP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 762,273, dated June 14, 1904.

Application filed January 24, 1903. Serial No. 140,406. (No model.)

To on whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL T. BEST, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Air-Ships, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in air-ships of that characterernploying gasreceptacles-or balloons for raising the device to a desired height; and its object is to provide revoluble wings of novel construction adapted to assist the balloons in raising the air-ship and to provide novel means for guiding the ship when removed from the ground.

Another objectis to provide means whereby the ship can be readily propelled through the air, said propelling means, as well as the hoisting means, being operated from a common power-wheel. 1

\Vith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred form of my invention, and in which Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section through my improved air-ship, the hoisting and propelling means being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is an end elevation. Fig. 3 is a section through one of the gas-receptacles or balloons. Fig. 4 is a view showing in detail the mannerof securing the braces of the hoisting and propelling wings to the shafts thereof. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the manner of connecting said wings to the end of their shaft. Fig. 6 isa plan view of means employed for guiding the air-ship. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the main drive-wheel and showing the manner of imparting motion therefrom to the shafts of the hoisting and propelling wings, respectively. Fig. 8 is acentral vertical longitudinal section through the air-ship and showing a modified form of hoisting-wings connected thereto, and Fig. 9 is a plan view of said wings detached.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, 1 1 are preferably cigar-shaped gasreceptacles or balloons, each of which is formed I for holding the balloons and the car rigidly connected to each other. Within each balloon, at the top thereof, is located a safety-valve 7, adapted to open automatically when extreme internal pressure is exerted thereupon, and an exhaust-valve 8 is arranged in the bottom of each balloon and may be operated byacord 9 or other deviceextending into the car. Each balloon is connected to a suitable gas-generator within the car and not shown by means of a tube 10, valves 11 being arranged therein to close automatically after the desired quantity of gas has been conducted to each of the balloons 1.

A motor of suitable form is located within the car 6 and operates a power-wheel 12, having a smooth working face, across which extend propelling and hoisting shafts 13 and 14, respectively. These shafts arearranged at right angles to each other, the propellingshaft extending longitudinally through the car and being provided with a friction-disk 15 thereon and slidably mounted thereupon, while the hoisting-shaft 14 extends from top to bottom of the car and is also provided with a friction-disk 16. The front end of shaft 13 is connected, by means of a universal joint 17, with a shaft-section 18, supported within a guide 19, which is connected, by means of braces 20, to the front end of the car. This guide is of sufficient length to permit the section 18 of the shaft to swing laterally in either direction. Any suitable means, as a cable 21 and Windlass 22, may be employed for swinging the shaft-sections to either side. To the rear end of shaft 13 and the front end of shaft-section 18 are secured wing-sections, each of which is preferably semicircular in form. Each of these sections comprises a frame 23, substantially semicircular and having braces 24, which extend from a block 25, arranged at the center of the straight side of the frame outward to the curved edge thereof. The block 25 referred to is mounted upon a pivot bolt 26, extending transversely through the reduced end 27 of the shaft to which it is connected, and this bolt serves as a pivot for the block 25 of each of the wingsections adjacent thereto. A covering 24*, of canvas or other suitable material, is securely fastened upon the frame of each wing. Both the shaft 13 and shaft-section 18 are provided with collars 27, which are formed therewith, and these collars serve to hold in position upon the shaft brace-strips 28, which are connected to the outer edges of the win g-sections and which are adapted to be clamped against the collars by means of adjustable rings 29, which may be locked upon the shaft by means of set-screws 30 or other suitable devices. By loosening the adjustable rings 29, 28 can be moved so as to permit the blocks 25 to be swung upon their pivots. In this manner the wings can be arranged at desired angles and then looked in position by again clamping the rings 29 upon the brace-strips.

The hoisting-shaft 14 extends upward to a point between the balloons 1 and is provided at its upper end with wings 31, similar in construction and arrangement to the propelling-wings hereinbefore described, and these wings are also provided with brace-rods 28, which are clamped at their lower ends upon the shaft 14 by means of a collar 27 and ring 29.

To operate this air-ship, gas is conductedto the balloons from the generator by way of pipes 10, and during such operation the exhaust-valves 8 may be opened to permit the escape of the air contained within the balloons. After the desired quantity of gas has been admitted to the balloons 1 the shaft 14 may be revolved by placing its friction-disk 16 in operative relation with the power-wheel 14, and the wings 30, which are arranged at an incline, will rapidly revolve and materially assist the balloons in hoisting the complete apparatus from the ground. To propel the air-ship in either direction, the disk 15 upon shaft 13 is moved into operative relation with power-wheel 12, and the shaft 13 is thus caused to revolve, and the wings thereon and upon the section 18 will impart a longitudinal movement to the apparatus. By means of the cable 21 section 18 may be moved at an angle to shaft 13, and as a universal joint 17 is provided at the point of connection between said shaft and section it is obvious that the section will continue to revolve at any angle to which it may be moved in relation to the shaft. By swinging the section 18 in either direction the apparatus can be readily guided through the air, as is obvious.-

If desired, in lieu of the hoisting-wheel described and illustrated a modified form, such as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, may be substituted therefor. This modified form of wheel comprises a series of preferably twelve wings, each of which consists of an angular frame 32, covered by canvas or other suitable material and provided upon its upper surface, at the outer end thereof, with a bracing-truss 33, the central portion of which is connected to the inner end of the frame by an arm 34, which projects into a head 35, arranged at the upper end of the shaft 14. Each of these wings is arranged at an incline, and it is obvious that when the shaft 14 is revolved the wings will impart an upward movement to the air-ship and assist the balloons in hoisting the same. Should, however, the gas become exhausted from the balloons 1, the shaft 14 could be held against rotation, and the resistance offered to the atmosphere by the stationary wings in their downward movement therethrough will serve to retard such movement, and the wheel will therefore act as aparachute in such an emergency.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of my invention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- Y 1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with similar parallel balloons having strengthening-braces therein, and rigid connections between the balloons; of a car supported between and rigidly connected to the balloons, a shaft journaled within the car and extending between the balloons, blocks pivoted at opposite sides of the shaft, wings extending from the blocks brace-strips connected to the wings, clamping means upon the shaft for holding the strips in adjusted position, and an operating device for the shaft.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with similar parallel balloons having longitudinally-extending rods therein, and braces projecting laterally from the rods; of frames rigidly connecting the ends of the balloons, a car rigidly secured to the frames, propelling and steering mechanism mounted upon the car, a vertical hoistingshaft revolubly mounted within the car and projecting between the balloons, means for operating the hoisting-shaft and the propelling mechanism simultaneously, blocks pivot- In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

SAMUEL T. BEST.

WVitnesses:

JAMEs O. PosToN, 7M. B. DIXON. 

